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Back in March, Google did not have good news about its latest Android operating system adoption; it showed Marshmallow 6.0 version was only at 2.3 percent.
However, Google’s latest figures are somewhat more hopeful as Marshmallow has finally reached double-digit Android share for the first time. Considering that the data reports are only one month apart, the latest OS version is doing pretty well.
The report on Google Platform Versions disclosed that the overall ranking for Android has remained largely unchanged. Lollipop is still the dominant Android platform, with the 5.0 and 5.1 versions accounting for 35.4 percent share.
KitKat follows closely with 31.6 percent, Jelly Bean in third with 18.9 percent while Marshmallow remains the fourth most popular.
The report also highlighted one of Google’s issues is still unsolved, and that is Android “fragmentation.” Android’s older versions remain highly popular; Jelly Bean, for example, is still favored by approximately 20 percent devices, even though it was launched between 2012 and 2013.
Ranked fifth, sixth, and seventh are the Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), and Froyo versions of Android, but as older versions, these, too, are showing signs of declining adoption.
It is noteworthy that the report data accounts only for devices that have Google Play Store. It means that the devices from Amazon’s Fire line and various Chinese manufacturers and are not included, and neither are those running on versions older than Android 2.2.
By the end of 2017, Marshmallow is expected to rank in the third or even second spot. According to past trends, new Android versions usually drive older ones to attain dominance. It is predicted that Marshmallow will only become the most popular Android OS once the upcoming Android N is launched.
As for the fragmentation, Google is working hard at resolving the issue. As previously highlighted, the issue where updates are not sent to user devices has been increased by various factors, such as handset specifications, smartphone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and carrier-service provider issues.
Carriers and OEMs alike have been found to send updates only to their preferred devices or customers. This practice prevents many users from benefitting from functions and security updates on the latest Android.
Image Source: Android Authority
